A SWELTERING African plume is about to engulf Britain triggering a month-long ‘monster heatwave’ as the nation braces for the highest temperatures in more than FOUR DECADES.

Freakishly warm weather from this weekend is forecast to hold out through the first half of July with the entire country gearing up to sizzle in weeks of record heat.

While the roasting forecast will come as good news to sun-worshippers, experts have warned elderly and vulnerable people to take extra care during ‘dangerous heat’.

Thermometers will take a steady climb from the end of this week as tropical air sweeps in from Africa and the Continent.

Britons have been told to make the most of a fresher feel brought by a mid-week cold front before ‘serious’ heat returns after the weekend.

Weathermen say the mercury could rise into the high 30Cs during the first week of July smashing all records for the month.

Blue skies and sunshine will bathe the nation through the end of June with no sign of rain or thunder to dampen spirits.

UK weather forecast: Britain is set for temperatures to SOAR (Image: Netweather)

Met Office forecaster Emma Sillitoe said: “From Friday temperatures are going to climb day by day with plenty of unbroken sunshine on the way for the whole country.

“High pressure is extending across Britain bringing an easterly flow of warm air in from the Continent.

“It is a very clean high meaning we are not expecting any air pollution or thundery outbreaks during this period.

“It will continue to get warmer through next week with highs of 30C (86F) now expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“With this we will continue to see plenty of blue skies and sunshine, it is looking beautiful.”

Extreme heat threatens to topple a raft of records for the season with even the UK maximum of 38.5C (101.3F) set in August 2003 at risk.

UK weather forecast: July 2018 will be hot all month (Image: Netweather)

The record for June is 35.6C (96.08F) logged in Camden Square, London, in 1957 and 1976 while July stands at 36.7C (98.06F) set in 2015.

Some weather experts think all of these records will come under threat during the coming weeks as the long-awaited barbecue summer blazes on.

James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said: “The upcoming heatwave is gaining more and more ground with each passing model run bringing a potentially unprecedented heatwave of epic proportions during the coming weeks.

“We expect to see maximum temperatures approaching or exceeding 30C (85F) in many parts of the country next week, by the first week of July we could even see temperatures approaching the mid to high 30Cs.

“Conditions are just right to see a whole set of weather records broken over the next few weeks and into next month.

“Unfortunately this kind of heat isn't good news for everyone and it would be advisable for those at risk during this monster heatwave to start preparing now.

“This includes elderly relatives who may underestimate the severity of this upcoming weather event.”

Weather models show temperatures nudging 30C (86F) across most of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland next week.

Humidity nearing 100 per cent will make it feel hotter in parts with southern England likely to resemble a Turkish bath by next weekend.

Daily temperature records for June are expected to fall as the mercury rockets around 15C above average for the time of year.

The highest temperature for June 23 is 32.2C (89.96F) set in Maldon, Essex, in 1976 with the 32.4 C (89.96F) record for June 24 reached in the same year.

With thermometers tipped to skyrocket into the mid 30Cs before the end of the month, record keepers could find themselves re-writing the books.

Piers Corbyn, forecaster for WeatherAction, said southeastern England will bake in the highest temperatures through the next week or so.

He said: “We are forecasting serious heat during the last week of June, a plume of hot air is about to sweep in from Africa and the Continent brining some very high temperatures.

“The south is going to endure the hottest weather next week, there is no doubt we are talking about heatwave conditions.

“It is quite certain we will approach or surpass daily temperature records during the next week and through to the end of the month.”

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UK weather forecast: Britain to be hit by heatwave from TODAY (Image: Netweather)

Long-range forecasts predict hot weather continuing to bake much of Britain through the first half of July.

The Met Offices 30-day outlook states: “The final week of June will see plenty of dry and sunny weather across most of the UK.

“With the fine weather, temperatures will continue to rise for all parts, but especially so in the south where it could turn hot.

“The heat may spark an isolated thunderstorm, with the risk increasing towards next weekend, especially over high ground, although the majority will stay dry.

“As we head into the start of July confidence reduces, but most areas should continue to see plenty of fine, sunny and very warm weather.

“Although confidence remains low through July, early indications bring a good deal of dry and settled weather across many parts of the UK.

“Where it turns more changeable it will also become cooler, but where the dry and settled weather continues, it will remain very warm, especially in the south and southeast.”

Bookies have spent much of this week shaving the odds on weather records falling as temperatures start to climb.

Ladbrokes is offering 4-7 from 4-6 that June turns into a record-breaker with 3-1 on this summer brining a new UK high temperature.

Spokesman Alex Apati said: "It's been a while since we've had a long hot summer in the UK but the betting says 2018 is the year for exactly that."

Coral makes the summer of 2018 odds on at 4-5 to be the hottest ever seen with 2-1 on the 35.6C June record tumbling.

Spokesman Harry Aitkenhead said: “April saw the hottest day for 69 years, our marathon runners ran the hottest London race of all time and May was the hottest on record. It’s going to be a year for records to tumble and whilst the hottest summer is odds on, we can’t rule out the hottest temperature of all time either.